Following Winterhawks and prospects in the WHL playoffs!

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by red sky

I don't see the best team in the league wanting to get older and trade away their prospects. There is no need for Iginla on that team.

In my opinion, that is precisely the type of team that would want Iggy: A team at or near the top, that needs a player like him to win now.

[Scoutski]

So lots of the first round series tied up, Rattie has been a machine with his goals totals! I hope Kamloops series is a bit more tense...

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Scoutski

So lots of the first round series tied up

No, there's only one still going. Vancouver trails Spokane 3-2 after 5 games. All of the other WHL first round playoff series are over.

For the Flames' prospects, the only second round series that matter are Edmonton (Brossoit) vs Brandon (Ferland); and Portland (Baertschi and Wotherspoon) vs Kamloops. Both series start on Friday, April 6 at 7:00pm local time.


Also, interesting to note, the Winterhawks will have home ice advantage for the series because the Division winners are only given priority in the first round of the playoffs. So, that's good news for Portland.

From the WHL website:

The first place Clubs in each Division will only be guaranteed the top two playoff seeds in the first round.

As in previous seasons, the format for the remaining three rounds of the WHL playoffs will remain the same.

The four Clubs winning first round series in each Conference will advance to the second round, where they will be ranked in order of regular season points. The Clubs will be paired 1 - 4, and 2 - 3 in best of seven series.

1. BDN @ EDM | Fri Apr 6 | 7:00 PM
2. BDN @ EDM | Sat Apr 7 | 6:00 PM
3. EDM @ BDN | Tue Apr 10 | 7:00 PM
4. EDM @ BDN | Wed Apr 11 | 7:00 PM
5. BDN @ EDM | Fri Apr 13 | 8:00 PM *
6. EDM @ BDN | Sun Apr 15 | 6:00 PM *
7. BDN @ EDM | Wed Apr 18 | 7:00 PM *


1. KAM @ POR | Fri Apr 6 | 7:00 PM
2. KAM @ POR | Sat Apr 7 | 7:00 PM
3. POR @ KAM | Tue Apr 10 | 7:00 PM
4. POR @ KAM | Wed Apr 11 | 7:00 PM
5. KAM @ POR | Sat Apr 14 | 7:00 PM *
6. POR @ KAM | Mon Apr 16 | 7:00 PM *
7. KAM @ POR | Wed Apr 18 | 7:00 PM *


Go Wheat Kings! (Flames prospect or not, I can never cheer for Edmonton)

Go Winterhawks!

[flamesrule14]

Really excited to see Ferland finally. Haven't really got a chance to see him much and am really looking forward to the series in Edmonton.

[memphusk]

I get to see Sven in action on friday. Should be good.

[Stealth22]

I'm probably really late to this party, but I just started watching the highlights of the Hawks vs Rockets game on the 23rd and saw Sven's sick move to set up Ty Rattie.

Daaaaayyyyuummmm...am I stoked to see this kid play next season!!

EDIT: God damn it, I hit play, and saw his moves on the 2nd Portland goal! I know its junior and you can't free wheel like that in the NHL, but you gotta admit, all hope isn't lost for this team!

[868904]

Originally Posted by Komskies

I think this has been brought up in other threads, but Rattie's point production increases nearly 40% when he plays with Sven, but Sven's only increases about 10% when playing with Rattie.

Sorry but I can't be arsed right now to go find the details.

No doubt that Sven makes Rattie better, but that doesn't mean Rattie doesn't have high end skill.

Rattie looks like a great finisher, which is something you can't really teach. It doesn't matter how many amazing plays Sven makes, if he's passing to the likes of Lee Stempniak and Blake Comeau, it will all go to waste.

Maybe i'm over-rating Rattie, but i'm just not use to seeing players put glorious scoring opportunities into the top corner with zip. I'm more use to seeing them bury the puck right into the goalies chest.

Bottom line, I think it's worth it for the Flames to try and get Rattie.

[sworkhard]

Originally Posted by 868904

No doubt that Sven makes Rattie better, but that doesn't mean Rattie doesn't have high end skill.

Rattie looks like a great finisher, which is something you can't really teach. It doesn't matter how many amazing plays Sven makes, if he's passing to the likes of Lee Stempniak and Blake Comeau, it will all go to waste.

Maybe i'm over-rating Rattie, but i'm just not use to seeing players put glorious scoring opportunities into the top corner with zip. I'm more use to seeing them bury the puck right into the goalies chest.

Bottom line, I think it's worth it for the Flames to try and get Rattie.

Its pretty common at the junior level to find these kinds of players. It's much more rare to find players that recognize that they have the option and ability to give the puck to a player like Rattie to shoot at a wide open net. Rattie can pass too, but he's not as good at it as Baertchi. Not saying Rattie is a bad player as he isn't, and I'd love to have him in the Flames system, but he's not the dynamic play maker Baertchi is. I think if you replaced Ty Rattie with Ryan Howse as a 19 year old, Howse would have had a very similar goal production.

Sven reads the play so well and he rarely seems to make the wrong play. He shoots when it's the best option, and passes when it makes the most sense too. With the number of open nets and half open nets Rattie gets playing with Baertchi, even Stempniak and Comeau could score.

[Ashasx]

Does anyone know which series Shaw will be showing in the second round, and when Sportsnet will begin their coverage?

[868904]

Originally Posted by sworkhard

Its pretty common at the junior level to find these kinds of players. It's much more rare to find players that recognize that they have the option and ability to give the puck to a player like Rattie to shoot at a wide open net. Rattie can pass too, but he's not as good at it as Baertchi. Not saying Rattie is a bad player as he isn't, and I'd love to have him in the Flames system, but he's not the dynamic play maker Baertchi is. I think if you replaced Ty Rattie with Ryan Howse as a 19 year old, Howse would have had a very similar goal production.

Sven reads the play so well and he rarely seems to make the wrong play. He shoots when it's the best option, and passes when it makes the most sense too. With the number of open nets and half open nets Rattie gets playing with Baertchi, even Stempniak and Comeau could score.

How often have you seen wide open nets in the NHL like you see in some of those WHL highlights? Not very often because the goalies and defensemen are the best in the world. You may get the top of the net but in those situations, you'll need a skilled shooter.

I've seen Stempniak and Comeau bury enough shots into goalie's chests to recognize that there is a difference between a skilled shooter (Rattie) and average shooter.

Stempniak and Comeau are probably better all around players than Rattie, but Rattie has elite finishing skills. It would be nice to have that kind of talent to complement Sven in the future is all i'm saying.

Reinhart and Ferland don't have those types of skills, better all around guys though. Gaudreau and Granlund do have those types of skills, but the Flames need more for the present and future.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by memphusk

I get to see Sven in action on friday. Should be good.

Haha. No you don't. The tickets I bought were for Tuesday. Oops

[sworkhard]

Originally Posted by 868904

How often have you seen wide open nets in the NHL like you see in some of those WHL highlights? Not very often because the goalies and defensemen are the best in the world. You may get the top of the net but in those situations, you'll need a skilled shooter.

I've seen Stempniak and Comeau bury enough shots into goalie's chests to recognize that there is a difference between a skilled shooter (Rattie) and average shooter.

Stempniak and Comeau are probably better all around players than Rattie, but Rattie has elite finishing skills. It would be nice to have that kind of talent to complement Sven in the future is all i'm saying.

Reinhart and Ferland don't have those types of skills, better all around guys though. Gaudreau and Granlund do have those types of skills, but the Flames need more for the present and future.

The goalies are a lot better in the NHL. Rattie would be hitting a lot of logo's in the NHL too simply because goalies are quicker and in better position. Ryan Howse had a similar quality shot in the WHL (his best asset), and look how much he's struggling to score. Rattie a better player than Howse no doubt (faster and smarter), but still, Howse scored 80% as many goals on a much worse team with worse linemates using a similar kind of shot and look how much he's struggled in the AHL this year. He'd probably have matched Rattie's totals if it wasn't for his yearly shoulder injuries. I just don't think you can fully judge a players finishing skills until they play in the AHL level or World Juniors at least. If he can translate his natural scoring touch to the NHL, he'll be a great player though.

[miraisoup]

Can you watch the Winterhawks games online?

[sworkhard]

Originally Posted by miraisoup

Can you watch the Winterhawks games online?

Looks like you can purchase online access through WHL Live. http://whl.neulion.com/whl/

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Does anyone know which series Shaw will be showing in the second round, and when Sportsnet will begin their coverage?

Sportsnet won't show anything before the Memorial Cup.

I'm not sure if Shaw has announced their round two lineup, but judging by the teams that are left, I expect they will follow the Oil Kings as far as Edmonton goes. With three of four teams left in the West American, I'd expect the next two rounds of coverage focus on the East.

[Ashasx]

Round 2 starts tonight.

Brandon @ Edmonton at 7.
Kamloops @ Portland at 8.

[getbak]

Shaw is televising the Medicine Hat - Moose Jaw series.

[devo22]

Should be a tight matchup between Portland and Kamloops ... I guess the Blazers only stand a chance if they could somehow neutralize the Bärtschi-Nöbels-Rattie line, but they have the better goalie in my opinion. Should be close.

I don't think the Wheat Kings can upset the Oil Kings, but I'd be happily surprised if they could.

[Trailer Fire]

Rattie in the second from Baertchi and Wrenn. 2-1 Blazers.

I'm starting to like the idea of trading for Rattie.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Trailer Fire

Rattie in the second from Baertchi and Wrenn. 2-1 Blazers.

I'm starting to like the idea of trading for Rattie.

No no no no!
NO!

Trading for junior chemistry is borderline ######ed.